Projectile-fuse.



WILLIAM DALTON, OF SCHENECTADY, NEW YORK.

PBOJECTILE-FUSE.

Application filed July 18, 1916.

To all lwhom fil? 'fr/my cfm/fern Be it known that I, wWILLIAM DALTON,of Schenectady, in the county of Schenectady and State of New York, haveinvented a certain new and useful Improvement in Projectile-F uses, ofwhich improvement the following is a specification.

My invention more particularly relates to explosive projectile fuses, inthe operation of which a percussion element is caused to fire anexplosivel charge when the velocity of the projectile, while in flight,is retarded 'by any obstacle.

The objects of my invention are to provide a flash port in a percussionelement, in order to avoid the cost of drilling a long port in the fusebody; to provide a simpler and more effective safety percussion element,which will guard against the accidental firing of the explosive charge,during the loading and transportation of theprojectile; to provide asimpler form of fuse body, by eliminating a long tortuous port, in orderto avoidv losses from imperfect workman' ship and porosity of thematerial;,to provide means for positively arming the percussion elementat the instant it starts upon its flight, by the inertia of areciprocating member; and to provide av `centrifugally actuated memberadapted to coperate with the inertia member, for the purpose ofpositively arming and holding the percussion element in its armedposition during flight, and for automatically disarming the percussionelement when the projectile rotates at less than a predetermined speed.

The improvement claimed is hereinafter fully set'forth. y

In lthe accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is an axial section through a'well known type of projectile fuse, illustrating an embodiment of myinvention; Figi '2, a partial section, illustrating the armed positionof my improved percussion element, at the instant the projectile isiredfrom the gun', Fig. 3, a section illustrating the firing position ofthe percussion element, at the instant the projectile is retarded whenin flight; Fig. 4,- av detail` plan of the percussion element,partly insection; and, Fig. 5, an axial section, illustrating a modification ofstructural detail.

Specification of Letters Patent.

tween thepowder in the, closin Serial No. 109,887. 3 .i

Paten te (1 D c;

In the practice of my iinveiition, refr-ir-y y ring descriptive-.ly tothe specific embodiment thereof which is herein e,Kemplified,E the body,1, of the fuse, carries, 'the' powder timing train rings, 2 and3,-,.whiclfifare'- fas,- tened tothe body by al closing damit, @intheusual manner. A' concussijo element, 5, which is inclosed by the cap,i1s,"adapted to fire the powder trains, atth instant the projectilestarts {f ,r'o i'. a Ygun.

The base powder charge in 'theichambeig i sion chamber, 1, and'. theannular" baise charge powder chamber, 6 'in thenslual'inan'- ner.'percussion spool, 7, theQ-Qbo'reiof is, adapted to contain apowder-core, 17?', l. is centrally disposed within"the chai-'mber .-12,and is supported and guided at'itfsxbac by the side walls ofthe'ch-aber, l1;, and at its front end bythe reciprocatinginertia armingsleeve, 9, andby the.'l walls "of the reduced front section ofthepereuson' chamber, forming afiringfcav 1 to permit it to slidetoward' firing pin, 14.*which proj'eetsinwa I lyLfrorn the front end/ofthe reduced oh:v nib r sefc onl forming the firing cavity. l ,l Theannular seat, 8b,' a"ai Vst wh '"h' spool, 7, abuts, is ofariipl'ecrushing when suddenly" impelling the spool, .at the is fired from agun. fiber disk, 8e, form Japartiti charge of powder, 8f, in the; cli4and the spool, 7, a smallfintervjening being interposed, as illustrated;closes the outer or back sidejoithe s the usual manner. usual form, andestablish''communI the annular chamber, 6; 'The I rocating arminginertia sleev 9,"w slidingly fitted in and guidedfbytep rc spring, 12,abuts against the inertia arming sleeve, and against a flange,7a,.formed on the. backend of the percussion spool, 7. The flan e,7*,also provides seats, 7S, for the back or afutting ends of thetriggers, when the percussion. element is in its normally locked ordisarlnedposition, as shown in Fig. l.

The trigger seats, 7?, are adapted to abut againstthe rear; ends'o'f thetriggers, and

` thereby4 to lock the spool when abutting vagainst theclosing screw, 6,and when in fits normal safely locked and disarmed po-I ition. Theslots, 9", formed in the recip- I .rocating arming sleeve, are made ofsuch width, measured laterally, that when the lsleeve is positioned atthe instant of tiring .the gun, as shown in F ig. 2, the triggers arecaused' to'move outwardly, from thei., inwardly inclined lockingpositions, shown in Fig. 1, to their vertical unlocked and armedpositionsagainst the percussion chamber as shown' in Eig. 2. When inthis position, the spring, 1,2, is completely compresd, and

incl'osed by an annular 4spring housing, Q, formed inl the armingsleeve. 'Elus-position .iss-bnly'temporarily held ,the sleevefand:thejj'spring as they are being rapidly ad celerated during the brieftime which elapses .while leavingr the gun, and until the springresilience overcomes. the inertia .of the sleeve and equilibrium is'again establishedbetween fthe forces governingfthemovement of theseveral parts forming, theV 'percussion ele- 45."

ment, at which -timevthe sleeve pushed fon vvard" by the spring,against`the arms, 10a.

Further" movement thereof is opposed and prevented by centrifugal -forcegenerated .in the-,triggers when the fuse is rotated at or aboireapredetermined arming speed. i This novel and important feature of thepercus,-F sion' element provides,l aV positive means of unlocking andarming the several triggers simultaneously, at the instant thegun isfired, and thereby prevents any possibility of'iiring failures .fromlnoperation ot an unHA perfect trigger. Furthermore., the centrit ugalforce due to the rotative speed ofthe' fuse and triggers, holds, thepercussion ele,-4 ment its' armed position until: the speed4 thepredetermined armi-ng drops below' speed, after'w percussion el'v h' theseveral parts 'of the t vautomaticalijv4 return .to

'their normal- Aisi'aufely locked and disarrmed` positionshowninfliigol;This' novelfjcon? and lires the hase charge, 8f,

as to sitions the s pool, 7, and a threaded cup nut,

13, whi'h is screwed upon the front end of the spool, 7, for the purposeof fastening a percussion detona'tor cap, 13a, in such manner as tofairly strike the firing pin, 14,

when the percussion spool, 7, moves forward to its tiring position shownin Fig. 2. f 'l the cap fires the powder core, 7e, and thereoy rupturesthe liber disk, i, which closes the hach end of the spool. Thefire-flash continues rearwardly, ruptures the dislne,

and, the charge contained 'in the chamber, and, with this added force,iresan explosive charge in the projectile, which isnot shown, as it maybe 'of any of the known constructions.

The compressive force of the. spring, 12, isvso proportioned andtransmittedto the centrifugal triggers, 10, by the inertia arming'sleeve, 9, andthe projecting arms, 10a, provide a predeterminedcentripetal force;7 This force only permits an outward unlockingmovement of the back ends of the triggers, which` will clear the seats,75, .and thereby arm the percussion element, at rotative speedsoftheprojectile above 2000 revolutions per minute, or such otherpredetermined speed of rotation, as may be desire f As illustrated inFig'.l 1, in the practice of my invention, the percussion element isassembled in the chamber, 1, in its normally locked and disarmerlposition. the percussion spool, 7, with the detonator cap, 13a,4fastened thereto'by the cup nut.; 1,3; and the triggers, 10, which areembraced by the slotted arriving;l sleeve, 9. These triggers are heldAin their inner'disarmed positions by spring pressure, .which is" trans`ioitted to thennt'roin 'the spring, 12, through the arms, 10, vandthearming sleeve, 9. The' spring, 12, also normally. positions the spool,with itsattaclied parts, against theolosi'ng, screw, 8, ata-safedistance from' the ring pin, 1li, so, as to'permitthe back endsoftheini'vardly inclined and.- "longitdinally dis posed triggers toabilities-einst the seats-,-7s,

and' thereby locle' the' spuelir the normal dis` armed position, shown;L

It comprises lau ' resilience "of'jtli'spring, as to require, duringthejliighto yafprojectile, a fuse arming roet'lrstee orv revolutions@minute', to 4arm thei'element 'centrifugalfforce developed therebyriggers; This force throws them armed" position ofthe element. lThisfposition is normally occupied during Hight, up

l:tothe instant the vprojectile meets'a retardo spool,' 7,.intoarifned:y position before coming to albrief against the flange, 7a. Thespo'olfineanyvhile more firmly seats itself agzlinst'thel closing .screwbecause of its own inertia. VVhen'the' projectile has acquired 4itsmaximum velocity of flight, and equilibrium is establishedin `theimpelling forces acting on'the several related I'parte forming thepercussionelement, the spring Slides the sleeve,9, l'forn'fardagainstthe trigger arms.

'ing ythe Wallof thechamber.

3.5.', Ati'tlielinstant'the projectile is retarded in itsflight,"the"spoolsuddenly slides forwa fd, firing vthel detonator ycapagainstthe firing piny andy exploding a projectile powder charge,providingit has not been previously fired by the'timingf'powder trains,2** and '3a. The leverage'due tothe relative diderence in'flengthsbetween'the centrifugal triggers, 10,' Aafnd'v'their,arms,4 10a, offerssuiiicient resistanceand lapse offtime, required by the correspondingvmovement of the sleeve, 9,l

tolovercome thecentrifugal trigger resistance, and. permity the spool toclear the triggers before it again locked thereby.

` When applying the improvement in a.

Well known' type of fuse shown in Fig.v 5,

wherein the. detonator cap is fixed in the front end 'ofthe chamber, theiring pin, 14, isv carried by the reciprocating member, here indicatedby7?, and the spring, 12, is located; outsideof the triggers and adjoin-The operationof the` mechanism is similar to that Vof thel construction'first'. described.

If, by'alccident, during transportation or othe'rvise,th'ev fuse isrotated at a sufficiently highy speed 4to arm the percussion element,

the 'compressive force' .of `the spring will automatically yreturn theseveral parts forming'the'; elementi, intov their locked and dis- Yarmedl'iosition` immediately f after the rotation falls lfbelo'vi a?predetermined arming fpproximately two thousand-y l `vthe arming speed.,fcle'far of kthe flange, and into the speed. 'This is an vimportant andvaluable featurev ,which avoids the great dangerlfromhandling an armedfuse or explosive'p'ro--" jectile after it has accidentally been.'rolled" down anincline or otherwiserotatedabove Iclaimas my inventionand desire to se#- cure m Letters Patent:

l. T e combination, in an explosive projectile fuse; of a percussionchamber; a firing pin and a detonator cap oppositely disposed therein; areciprocating. member adapted to explode the cap againstv thefiring pin;means fortransmitting fire flash from the cap toa powder charge; one ormore centrifugal triggers engaging and normally lockingy thereciprocating member in disarmed position; means for pivotallysupportingand guiding the triggers;.a movable inertia member adapted to unlock thetriggers and arm the reciprocating member Whenthe fuse begins itsflight; and automatic means opposing the motion of the re-` ciprocatingmember, the inertia member, and the triggers', for normally holding thereciprocating member in locked disarme'd'v position, releasing it after'beginning flight, and again lock-ing it at a rotative speed of thefuse' below a predetermined arming speed.

2. The combination, in an explosive projectile fuse,of a percussionchamber; -a lir-v ing pin and a detonator cap oppositely disposedtherein; a. reciprocating member adapted to explode the cap againstthe-firing pin; means for transmitting fire flash from v the cap to apowder ,chargeg-one or more centrifugal triggers yengaging and normallylocking `the/reciprocating member in disarmed position; means forpivotally supporting and guiding the triggers; laterally projecting armsformed on the triggers; a movable inertia sleeve encircling thereciprocating member, so as to normally bear against said arms, andtoslidingly bear against the triggers and unlock the reciprocatingmemberl when the fuse begins its flight and the sleeve is thereby givena reary Ward motion away from the arms; and a spring opposing the motionof the reciprocating member, the inertia sleeve,y and the triggers, andnormally holdingthe latter in locked engagement with the reciprocatingmember, in disarmed position and releasing them after beginning Hight. l

3. The combination, in anexplosive ,projectile fuse, of a percussionelement; a firing pin and a detonator cap oppositely disposed therein; areciprocating member adapted to explode 'the cap against the firing pin;

means for transmitting lire flash from the cap to a. powder charge ;noneor more centrifugal trlggers engagingfand'fnormally locking thereciprocating :member 1n: 'disarmed position; .laterally projecting arms`formed on the triggers; a movableV inertia member bearingon thearms andadapted to unlock the" triggers; slots formed in the inertia member,embracing and `positioning the front ends of the triggers; anda springopposing the motion of the inertia and `reciprocating members, normally,holding the tiiggers in said vdisarmed locked engagement with thereciprocating member, and

releasing them after beginning flight.

4. The combination, in an explosive projectile fuse, of a percussionchamber; a firing pin and a detonator cap oppositely disposed therein;av reciprocating member adapted to explode the cap against the firingpin; means for transmitting fire flash from the'cap to a powder charge;one or more centrifugal triggers engaging and normally locking thereciprocating member in dis* armed position; laterally projecting armsformed on the triggers; a movable inertia member bearing on the armsandvadapted to unlock the triggers; slots formed in the inertia member,embracing yand positioning thefront ends of the triggers; a slottedflange formed on the reciprocating member and oppositely disposed to theinertia member and embracing and positioning the rear ends of thetriggers; trigger seatsformed on the reciprocating member normally enigaging the triggers; and a spring interposed between the inertia memberyand slotted flange, for normally holding the reciprocating member inlocked disarmed position and releasing it after beginning flight.

5.- Tlie combination, in an explosive projectile fuse; of a percussionchamber; a ring pin and a detonator cap oppositely disposed J therein;'a reciprocating member adapted to explode `the cap against the firingpin; a guiding flange formed o n the rear end thereof; means "fortransmitting fire flash from the cap to a powder charge; one or morecentrifugal triggers engaging and normally locking the reciprocatingmember in disarmed position; an inertia sleeve encircling thereciprocating member,so as to slide toward the guidingilange and unlockthe vtriggers after beginning flight; and a, spring interposed bety/eenthe inertia sleeve and the reciprocating" member, to hold them in normaldisarmed position until beginning flight.

6. The combination, in an explosive projectilefuse, of a percussionchamber; a seat formed in the front end thereof; a firing cavityencircled b'y the seat; a firing pini and detonator disposed therein ;ya reciprocating,

member disposed within the chamber at the rear of the firing cavity andagainst the rear end of the chamber, and adapted to explode the capagainst the firing pin; a guiding flange formed on the rear end thereof;one

, or more centrifugal.triggers engaging and normally locking `thereciprocating member in disarmed position; an inertia sleeve e117'circling the reciprocating member and unlocking the triggers whensliding rearward after-beginning flight; and a springinterposed betweenthe guiding flange and the in therein; a reciprocating member adaptedtov i explode the cap against the firing pin ;.ineans for transmittingfire flash from the cap lto a powder charge; one or more centrifugaltriggers engaging and normally locking the reciprocatingmember indisarmed position; 4means'for pivotally supporting and guiding thetriggers; a 'movable inertia member adapted to unlock the triggers andarm the reciprocating member when the fuse begins its flight; an annularspring housing and seat formed on the inertia member; and a springdisposed in the housing` opposing the triggers, the reciprocating,andthe inertia members, and normally holding the reciproeating member inlocked disarmed position until released and armed by the inertia memberafter beginning flight.

8. The combination; in an explosive prol jectile fuse, of a .percussionchamber; a firing pin fixed in the front endv thereof; a

percussion spool disposed within the chain-,f

ber and adapted to slide toward and from the firing pin; a detonator capcarried in the front end of the spool; means for transmitting a fireflash therefrom to aA powder charge; one or more centrifugaltriggersnormally engaging and locking the spool in disarmed position; means forpivotally supporting and guiding the triggers; a movable inertia sleeve,guided by the chamber and encircling and guiding the detonator cap intocontact with the firing pin; and means opposing the motion of the spool,the sleeve, and thetriggers, and normally holding the spool in lockeddisarnied position, until re* leased and armed by the inertia member atthe beginning of flight. Y

9. The combination, in an explosive pro-,

jectile fuse, of a percussion chamber; a fir `ing pin and a detonatorcap oppositely disposed therein; an axially disposed longitudinallyreciprocating member` adapted to explodethe cap against the ring pin;trigger seats formed on the rear end thereof; trigger seats formed inthe front end of the chaniber; means for guiding the reciprocatingmember; one or more inwardly inclined and lll)V longitudinally disposedcentrifuga! triggers l normally interposed between said seats andlooting 4the reciprocating member; 'an in ertiav arming sleeveinterposed between said reciprocating member and the triggers and insliding Contact therewith2 so as to unlock until released and armed bythe inertia mem?. the triggers and arm the reciprocating member at thebeginning of flight. ber when the prejectile begins its flight; and

means opposing' the motion of the i'eeipi'o-` l WILLIAM DALTON' 5 eatingmember, the inertie sleeve, and the Witnesses:

triggers, and normally holding the reeipro- J. AFPS,

eating membenin disarnied locked position E. J. APPS,

